NEWS ARCHIVE

Advertisement

Audit finds MSDE did not always ensure background checks

The state agency that oversees day care facilities did not make sure operators did criminal background checks on their employees, state auditors found. The Office of Legislative Audits found that the Maryland State Department of Education isn't doing enough to make sure criminal background checks are done. The report determined MSDE sometimes missed following up on criminal alerts for those workers.

The state agency that oversees day care facilities did not make sure operators did criminal background checks on their employees, state auditors found. The Office of Legislative Audits found that the Maryland State Department of Education isn't doing enough to make sure criminal background checks are done. The report determined MSDE sometimes missed following up on criminal alerts for those workers.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 6:22 PM EDT Jul 1, 2016

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT THEY SOMETIMES MISSED FOLLOWING UP ON CRIMINAL ALERTS FOR THOSE WORKERS. A REVIEW BY THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE AUDIT FINDING THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS NOT DOING ENOUGH TO MAKE SURE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE DONE FOR ALL MAIL AND CHILD CARE WORKERS. THE PROCESS COULD BE ENHANCED. LOCK IT DOWN TO HELP ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING IS FUNCTIONING. DAVI THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OVERSEES CHILDCARE LICENSING AND THE INSPECTION OF 9800 FACILITIES. AUDITORS DETERMINED THAT THEY DO NO ADEQUATELY ENSURE THAT BACKGROUND CHECKS WERE OBTAINED FOR CHILDCARE FACILITY EMPLOYS. THEY DID NOT ALWAYS CONDUCT OR OF FOLLOW-UPS WH SUBSEQUENT BACK-CHECKS INDICATED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. >> THAT IS FRIGHTENING. DAVID: THE PUBLIC AND PARENTS ARE APPALLED. >> THAT IS WORRISOME. WE SHOULD HAVE THE MOST QUALIFIED PEOPLE TAKING CARE OF OUR CHILDREN. >> WE RELY ON THE STATE TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES IN PLACE. -- FOR EMPLOYERS. DAVID: THE NAMES ARE PLACED IN EIGHT DATABASE A DATABASE. THEY'RE COMPARED WITH THOSE ON CHARTER PAYROLLS. AUDITORS TESTED NOT FACILITIES AND FOUND NO EVIDENC THAT TWO EMPLOYEES WANT TO BACKUP TEXT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD BEEN HIRED SIX AND 30 MONTHS PRIOR. >> WE WANTED TO MODIFY THE PROCEDURES. DAVID: THE EDUCATION OFFICIALS RESPONDED SAYING THEY DISAGREE WITH THE FINDINGS AS IT DOES HAVE ADEQUATE PROCESSES TO ENSURE THAT BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE OBTAINED FOR ALL CHILDCARE EMPLOYEES AND SUBSEQUENT ALERTS ARE ADEQUATELY PURSUED. >> WE WANT 100% COMPLIANCE. DAVI OFFICIALS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TOLD AUDITORS THE AGENCY HAS EFFECTIVE PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THAT CRIMINAL BACK ON CHECKS ARE RECEIVED AND REVIEWED AND DISTRIBUTIVE TO A LICENSING

Audit finds MSDE did not always ensure background checks

The state agency that oversees day care facilities did not make sure operators did criminal background checks on their employees, state auditors found. The Office of Legislative Audits found that the Maryland State Department of Education isn't doing enough to make sure criminal background checks are done. The report determined MSDE sometimes missed following up on criminal alerts for those workers.